Railway signal-torpedo.



F. BUTCHER.

RAILWAY SIGNAL TORPEDO.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-1.1917.

1 ,278,887. Patented Sept. 17, 1918.

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Patented Sept. 17, 1918..

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NIT D s'r res Paran'r OFFICE.

FRANK BUTCHER, or vnnsAmLEs; rENNsYLvp'mA, AssIeNop smNhL COMPANY, orrrrasBUiteH, PEimsYLvA'NIA;

JEBsEY.

'IQ CJENTBAL RAILWAY A coitrona'rron OF NEW RAILWAY SIGNAL-TOBIPEBO.

Patented Sept. 17, 1918.

Application filed August 1, 1317. seri l No. esp z.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I FRANK Doicnnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Versailles, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new andiisefullmprovements in Railway Signal-Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the aceompanyingdrawing'.

This invention relates to improvements in railway signal torpedoes, and pertains to a torpedo laying its case made from a lead foil tube, and 111 which the ends of the case are extended beyond the explosive and adapted to be folded around the head of the rail for attaching the torpedo thereto.

The o je t 015' my. .r sen in ent n. t provide a very" thin ead 'foil tube with an integrally thickened rib extending longitudinally the case and particularly the 6X tended ends to give the ductile ends sufficient holding power when doubled around the head of the rail to efiiciently hold the torpedo thereto.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lead foil tube from which the torpedo case is formed.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the coin pleted torpedo.

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal sectional view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4c is a perspective view of a lead foil tube showing a modified form of my improvement.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a completed torpedo showing a modified form of my torpedo.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal 1147:: View of Fig. 5.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 is a lead toil tube made up with a very thin wall, and this tube has formed integral therewith a longitudinally arranged rib 2. Figs. 2 and 3 show the completed torpedo with my preferred form.

A suitable explosive tablet 3 is placed within the tube 1 intermediate its ends, and the ends 4 of the tube flattened, as clearly shown. The flattening of the ends 4 of the tube widens the ends, as compared with the central explosive containing portion 5, thus making a torpedo with Wide ends and a. relatively narrow central explosive containing portion.

The ends & extend be end the explosive. central ortion 5 a suflicient distance for tliein' to lap around and under the head of ai'ailroadrail to hold the torpedo in position on the rail to be run over, by a passing train. The extended ends when folded around the head of the rail serve to hold the ,torpedo in place in a manner well understood by those skilled in this art.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the rib 2 is placed on the bottom of the torpedo and that is the preferred location, because the explosion is upward and outward, and with the thickened por-titg on the bottom, there is no dangle'f q amine:

he tube 1 is made of such thin lead foil that when the torpedo explodes the flying particles, if any, because of their thinness and lightness, will not injure ersons who happen to be standin near. T is improv: ment, therefore, pro uces a torpedo which is of the harmless type.

In Figs. 4c, 5 and 6 I show a rib 2 on top of the torpedo instead of the bottom, as in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and to that extent Figs. 4, 5 and G disclose a modified form of the improvement.

I do not limit. myself to making a single wide rib 2, as here shown, as the generic idea of the improvement is to provide a tube with an integrally thickened portion which may be in the form of a single wide inte ral rib, as here shown, or of a plurality of similar longitudinal ribs. Where a single rib is used it is preferably made of a width and thickness substantially the same as the well-known lead strap, usually used for this purpose, and where a plurality of ribs are used, their combined thickness and width will preferably substantially correspond to that of the Well-known lead strap used for that purpose.

I also wish it to be understood that the present improvement is not dependent upon havin the extended ends wider than the centra explosive portion, as the wider ends may be narrowed by folding or otherwise, but'folding is not necessary and is no part of my present improvement, since the thickened integral rib or ribs is de ended upon in my improvement for stifl'enin the ends to give holding power when fo1 ed around the head of a rail.

I also wish it to be understood that the rib or ribs need not extend over the explosive portion of the torpedo, but preferably it will lap the portions 6' at the junction of the explosive 3 and the flattened ends, for it is at these points where the tube is most likely to break from being bent in its use or in handling thereof.

, I do not limit my invention to any particular formation or location of the thickened rib and my improvement is present when and wherever the extended ends of a onepiece torpedo, of the type here disclosed, are provided with integral longitudinally extended thickened rib or ribs, for the purpose of thickening the ends and giving them holding power when folded around the head of a rail.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A railway signal torpedo comprising a case composed of a lead foil tube, an explosive within the tube and intermediate its ends, the extended ends of the tube having an integral longitudinally thickened rib for the purpose described, and the ends of the tube flattened and extending outward from the said explosive.

2. An improved railway comprising a lead foil case, an explosive in the center thereof, the ends of the ease fiattened and extending beyond the explosive, the extended ends of the case having an integral longitudinally thickened rib, the rib extending across the point of junction of the explosive and the flattened ends, for the purpose descibed.

A railway signal torpedo comprising a lead foil tubular case havin a thickened integral longitudinally exten ing rib extending substantially throughout the length of the tube, an explosive 1n the center of the tube, the extended ends of the tube fiattened, thus forming extended ends with a longitudinally extending rib.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK DUTCHER.

signal torpedo Witnesses:

Scorn M. STEWART, M. WILSON STEWART.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "commissioner of Intent;

Washington, D. 6; 

